his eyes and stared around him as if looking for
the blue dragons that had filled his dreams.

"What d'ye mean by scaring us all half to death, Elephant?" demanded
Andy, when he could in some measure command his voice.

"My goodness gracious! you don't think I did that a-purpose, do you?"
exclaimed the small boy, rubbing his elbows as though they tingled
after coming in such rough contact with the floor. "What d'ye take me
for? And Larry, didn't I tell you that rarebit would make me dream?
You just made me eat it; and now see what happened! Oh! but I thought
the whole house had blown up, and I was heading for the stars. It was
a fierce experience. Talk about your rarebits, never more for me!"

"Listen! somebody's coming, sure!" exclaimed Larry.

"Oh! what if it's Jules, after all? Where's the gun, Frank? Get it
ready, won't you? There, he's pounding at the door. Where's my club?
Somebody took my club!" and Elephant scrambled around, looking for the
lost weapon which he had placed within reach before retiring.

Bang! bang! bang!

"Here, open up, and let me get at the rascals! Frank, Andy, have they
murdered you all? Why don't somebody answer? Why don't you open this
door before I smash it in with my crutch?" came a roar from without.

"It's Colonel Josiah!" cried Andy. "Hold on, Colonel; we're all right
here. Nobody hurt! All a mistake! Frank, open the door, will you?
Nothing doing, Colonel, you see!"

The aged veteran stalked inside, using his crutch once more to assist
his locomotion. In his other hand he gripped a tremendous horse
pistol, the very size of which must have sent a shiver through any
nocturnal prowler.

"It was Elephant who raised the rumpus, Colonel!" explained Andy. "He
had a dream and fell out of his hammock, knocking over all the tin pans
and a chair. We were all scared, thinking it might be Jules come to
town."

The grim old traveler turned upon Elephant, trying to hide the twinkle
in his eyes by pretending to assume a heavy frown.

"I won't do it again, I assure you, sir!" faltered Elephant, trying to
hide behind Frank. "It was an accident, indeed it was. And I bruised
both my elbows just fierce. After this I'm going to tie that swinging
canoe down, so it won't kick me out again."

"H'm! you'd better," was all the old man said as he turned away; but
Frank was of the opinion he wished to hurry off, so that he could
chuckle over the ridiculous picture presented by